Search engine optimization has changed drastically over the last couple of years. Google Panda updates have changed the face of SEO, and what previously worked excellently will now drive your website down the drain. That is why it is important to have experts who keep up with the latest updates manage your website’s SEO. In this post, we’ll introduce you to a number of important search engine optimization strategies that you may not be familiar with, or may serve as a refresher!
Proper keyword usage
You probably know that keyword stuffing, or the over-usage of keywords, is not recommended anymore. However, a lot more goes into the proper usage of keywords than simply inserting one or two into your posts. You can be using keywords, but you may not be aware of how effective the keywords you use actually are. For example, you might not know how many people are searching Google per month using that keyword. You may also not know how large the competition is to rank highly under that keyword. If the competition is very high, you’re going to struggle if you depend on that keyword alone.
A keyword tool or SEO service can find long-tail keywords for your services that have low competition and still receive a relatively high number of monthly searches, thus helping you to improve the visibility of your business.
That’s not all when it comes to using keywords. Where should the keywords be placed? How often should they be used? As mentioned above, it is totally unnecessary, and even detrimental, to use keywords too many times. So, where should they go?
At the very least, the best practice is to place your keyword in the title of a post or page, as well as in the first paragraph. They may also be placed a few times throughout the article. It’s best to do this in a natural manner, that goes along with the flow of the text. The number one place to put your keywords, however, are in your page titles. Hover over a tab on your browser and the text that pops up beneath your cursor? That’s the page title.
Web design
Did you know that article formatting and web design can directly impact your website’s pagerank? This is because Google tries to rate websites based on their user-friendliness. Websites are user-friendly when they have a structured design and are easy to use.
The harder to navigate your website is, the less engaging it becomes. If potential customers are viewing your site but immediately click off to your competitor, it’s not just you who notices. When your website’s bounce rate increases, Google takes note.
Mobile-friendly
Sites that are mobile-friendly are the norm today, and sites that are not responsive tend to rank lower in Google. More and more people today surf the web using smartphones and tablets, so a website that is not mobile-friendly is missing out.
PPC
A great way of attracting traffic to your website is through Google AdWords. By setting up a Google AdWords campaign, you will only pay when someone clicks on your ads, so it’s a win-win situation. However, in order for an AdWords campaign to be successful, it is necessary to target keywords properly.
If a keyword is very competitive, it will cost much more per click than if your campaign is targeting keywords that are less competitive. That’s besides the simple issue of fewer results. In order to ensure that your PPC campaign is effective and successful, you must choose your keywords carefully. Google AdWords also allows you to target certain demographics to make your campaign more effective.
These are just the tip of the iceberg – if you’re considering utilizing professional website design and SEO to leverage the visibility of your business, give us a call today! We’d love to talk more about how we can help your business grow in today’s internet-driven world.